Trial finds online therapy lowers anxiety and depression in dementia carers

Researchers at the University of East Anglia report that a digital therapy platform measurably eased the anxiety and depression carried by family members caring for someone with dementia. In a randomized controlled trial of 496 unpaid carers across England, half received the online program, called iACT4CARERS, alongside usual care, and half received usual care alone. The platform, based on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, runs on a computer, tablet, or smartphone through eight sessions with written feedback from trained NHS support workers, plus optional phone or video calls. Carers using it reported lower anxiety after three months, sustained at six months, along with lower depression. Lead researcher Dr. Naoko Kishita noted that about one in three people supporting someone with dementia develops anxiety or depression, yet many cannot leave the person they care for to reach in-person help. The study, funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research, was published in The Lancet Regional Health—Europe.